Otoplasty is often referred to as cosmetic ear pinning surgery, which is performed on the outer ear (known as the auricle). While commonly used to correct disproportionately large or protruding ears, otoplasty is also designed to change the size, shape, and positioning of the ears. The procedure can also correct misshapen ears caused by birth defects and injury. Otoplasty can be performed on adults and children over the age of five.
Dr. Eric Payne is a craniofacial plastic surgeon in Houston who specializes in otoplasty and other procedures of the head and neck. He offers unparalleled experience in achieving balanced, natural-looking, and harmonious results with ear surgery.
What is Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure that can make the ears look more proportional in relation to the rest of your facial features. While frequently performed to pin back ears that project or protrude too far from the sides of the head, otoplasty can also recontour the ears to correct deformities and restore a natural-looking ear shape. Not only does this procedure provide a cosmetic improvement, but otoplasty also offers emotional benefits, often in the form of elevated self-confidence, a higher self-esteem, and a more positive body image.
What are the Benefits of Ear Pinning Surgery?
In many cases, kids or even adults are bullied and teased due to the appearance of protruding ears — if you believe your ear shape is interfering with your enjoyment of life, having this surgery can help you feel more comfortable with your ears. This procedure offers several benefits, including:
- Minimal downtime
- Relatively quick procedure
- Discreet incision placement, resulting in no noticeable scarring
- May be performed in-office depending on the details of your treatment plan
- Long-term, permanent results
Our before-and-after photos showcase some of the excellent outcomes achieved by Dr. Payne for previous patients, and we invite you to explore our gallery to get a better understanding of the results you can expect from the procedure.
Who is a Good Candidate for Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is most successful when individuals are in good overall health without any underlying health conditions. Realistic expectations for the final results are also essential, and Dr. Payne will go over all of the details of your treatment plan in person.
Otoplasty for Children
Otoplasty is one of the only cosmetic procedures that can safely be performed on children who are at least five years old. It’s important that a patient’s ears have reached the majority of development, which typically happens at age five. If your child has struggled with issues associated with prominent ears or an ear deformity — such as bullying, teasing, poor performance in school, bedwetting, etc. — they may benefit from ear correction with otoplasty. Consulting with your primary care provider or a qualified plastic surgeon can help you determine whether ear surgery is right for your child’s needs.
What Can I Expect From My Otoplasty Consultation?
During your consultation, we will go over your medical history including any previous medical conditions. Dr. Payne, our board-certified plastic surgeon, will examine your ears and address any questions you may have during your visit while discussing goals and surgical risks. Dr. Payne will utilize advanced otoplasty techniques to meet your realistic surgical expectations.
What are the Different Otoplasty Techniques?
- Ear augmentation: Sometimes the ears can be underdeveloped or appear small. When this is the case, an otoplasty to increase the auricle (known as the outer portion of the ear) can help boost your self-confidence.
- Ear pinning: This type of otoplasty is performed on patients with prominent ears or ears that stick out. This surgery involves drawing the ears closer to the head.
- Ear reduction: Macrotia refers to ears that are larger than normal-sized ears. This type of cosmetic surgery is performed by reducing and reshaping the size of large ears, which can bring a more balanced look to fruition.
What is Incisionless Otoplasty?
The best method for an incisionless otoplasty is with ear molding. This procedure is typically performed on newborns when the ear cartilage is still soft and moldable. Ear molding cannot be performed on adults or older children successfully. Some surgeons will claim to perform incisionless otoplasty in their office using sutures to reshape and hold the cartilage. These techniques are risky due to the possibility of sutures extruding from the skin and infection. This is not a true incisionless otoplasty because a scalpel is used to place the sutures.
How is the Otoplasty Procedure Performed?
Otoplasty is a cosmetic procedure performed in an outpatient hospital setting. This surgery typically takes between 2-4 hours and is completed using an anesthetic. Ear pinning surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia with a sedative or general anesthesia. During this procedure, you will have a small incision located on the back of the ears. The ear cartilage will then be reshaped by making small, thin cuts in the surface of the cartilage along with permanent sutures to hold the new shape of the ear. Occasionally, large ears will be reduced by removing excess cartilage. The earlobes can also be set back with special suture techniques in the cartilage and the soft tissue of the ear. There are a number of congenital ear deformities and abnormalities that can also be treated with an otoplasty. Occasionally, Dr. Payne will use cartilage grafts to help with the shaping of the ear.
What is Recovery From Otoplasty Like?
Following your otoplasty procedure, your ears will be covered with dressing bandages. You may experience itchiness, pain, swelling, and discomfort right after your surgery. We recommend you take over-the-counter pain medication such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Avoid sleeping on your side. We recommend wearing a button down shirt or loose-fitting shirts. Your bandage and any stitches will be removed during your post-operative visits at our office. Recovery can last anywhere between 1-2 weeks. Avoid any strenuous activity. During the first week after surgery, you will wear a headwrap to protect the ears. You will then be required to wear a headband for 5 weeks after surgery, after the headwrap is removed.
Following your post operative instructions will best prepare you to rest and recover properly. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.
How Long Do Otoplasty Results Last?
Results typically last a lifetime when it comes to otoplasty. This procedure will result in permanent changes in your ears. For the best results, we suggest you follow our instructions provided after the procedure.
Will I Experience Pain After Otoplasty?
Most people will have mild pain after ear pinning surgery. The use of over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen should control discomfort and pain. If someone is experiencing severe pain, it can be an underlying problem such as infection or hematoma. If you are experiencing severe pain, please call our office immediately.
Risks of Otoplasty
Some of the risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, unnatural-looking appearance, asymmetry, and negative reactions to anesthesia. Although you are at a low risk for these complications, it is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions to minimize your risk of complications. Our providers are trained in plastic and reconstructive plastic surgery to treat all ear deformities. Dr. Payne is also a member of the American Society Of Plastic Surgeons.
Is Revision Otoplasty Possible For Botched Ear Pinning Surgery?
Yes, if you are not satisfied and unhappy with your results from a previous otoplasty surgery, a revision otoplasty can be performed to correct any of your concerns. Dr. Payne will offer you the most effective care necessary.
“The staff was so pleasant and welcoming. Sonia was fantastic at making me feel comfortable and aware of my earlobe repair procedure. Dr. Payne communicated with me during the entire process and was sensitive to any discomfort that I had. It was not painful, and I’m so excited to heal and wear hanging earrings again.”
How Much Does Otoplasty Cost?
Otoplasty is not covered by insurance due to it being considered cosmetic. Typically, pricing for an otoplasty outpatient procedure is determined by the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia cost, and facility fees. The cost of the surgeon’s fee can vary depending on your treatment plan. During your consultation visit, you will be given a quote and a breakdown of the cost to prepare for surgery.
Is Non-Surgical Otoplasty Possible?
There are several techniques to avoid surgical otoplasty, such as infant ear molding; however this requires recognition of the ear deformity at birth. Typically, prominent ear deformities may go unnoticed or may not develop until much later, after a baby is a few months old. When this occurs, the alternative is to undergo otoplasty when the child is older.
Other non-surgical otoplasty techniques include an incisionless otoplasty procedure. This technique involves making small incisions behind the ear and placing sutures through the cartilage to achieve the desired pinning of the ear. This technique has a high incidence of suture extrusion or suture granuloma, wherein an infection will require removal of the sutures leading to a relapse of the ear deformity. This technique also fails to address all the elements of the reason for a prominent ear deformity. If a prominent ear is caused by an excessive conchal bowl, then this technique will not result in the desired natural “normal-appearing” ear. We recommend a consultation to help determine if you are a candidate for non-surgical otoplasty.
Contact Texas Liposuction Specialty Clinic in Houston today to schedule a consultation for otoplasty or our other cosmetic procedures.